* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: President Scott
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Bring the World Cup to Baltimore in 2026
For the purpose of expressing the Baltimore City Council’s unequivocal support for Baltimore’s bid to be a World Cup Host City in 2026.
body
Recitals
In 2026, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host the FIFA World Cup. As such, billions of soccer fans all across the world will turn their collective attention to these 3 countries as national teams from around the world will compete to determine who gets to be the World Champion.
Indeed, the World Cup, like the Olympics, is a world event. According to FIFA, a combined 3.572 billion viewers - more than half of the global population aged four and over - tuned in to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Currently, 17 cities in the United States, including Baltimore, are in the running to be selected as one of the 10 Host Cities to feature matches during the group phase of competition. Baltimore should absolutely be one of them.
Baltimore’s reputation as a sports town with a rich, vibrant, and diverse history makes this a no-brainer. M&T Bank Stadium is already well-regarded as one of the top sports facilities in the country, and it has already played host to international soccer friendlies with much success. Further, the stadium’s central location downtown makes it easily accessible from Thurgood Marshall Airport, Penn Station, and several highways as well as accessible to scores of hotels and restaurants, attractions like the Inner Harbor and Fort McHenry, and many of the diverse neighborhoods that make Baltimore “Charm City.”
The vision statement for the official effort to bring the World Cup to Baltimore perhaps sums it up best:
The City of Baltimore and State of Maryland represent the progress of uniting our nation’s past with the global environment of the present and future. Our destination’s diverse cultural history has made it a global city for centuries, uniting people of ethnic backgrounds from around the world. Baltimore-Maryland will continue to lead the effort to welcome the world to America. We will lead the effort to unite citizens, cultures, commerce, medicine, education, environment, religion and sport to create a better future for our community, the world and its people.
Baltimore is ready for its World Cup moment. Let’s make it happen.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Council expresses its unequivocal support for Baltimore’s bid to be a World Cup Host City in 2026.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Baltimore-Maryland 2026 World Cup Host Committee, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.